The pressure to pick the perfect wine for any occasion can be stressful. With options ranging from sweet red burgundies to bitter crisp whites, wine bars will help you find exactly what you need for a casual night out glass or a celebratory night out bottle. Sit a while, sip a lot and enjoy the best wine bars that NYC has to offer.
See Also: The 9 Best Wineries Near The Hamptons
View this post on Instagram
135 Division St. / 212.258.0722 / Website
Whether you need a quick glass or a rare vintage bottle, Parcelle is your spot to drop in. Parcelle provides personal pairings and offers “Weekly Wine School,” where participants sample three wines centered around a specific theme. Located on the Lower East Side, their extensive drink list features red and white burgundies, sparkling champagnes and beer wines for the more adventurous sippers. With sommeliers onsite every afternoon, they will help you select your ideal bottle or even deliver it to your front porch.
View this post on Instagram
40 Carmine St. / 646.438.9334 / Website
Yes, the name meaning “abstinence of alcoholic beverages” may be misleading, but this wine bar is the exact opposite. This modern neighborhood restaurant and bar offers unique wine by the glass under different menu sections, including “staff picks,” “vibe of the month,” and for the big-spenders, “break the bank.” The award-winning establishment also serves sharable plates with vegan and gluten-free options, non-alcoholic drinks and happy hour specials. Offering over a hundred different wine varieties, visitors will surely want to revisit and try them all so their taste buds can explore the wonderful world of wine.
View this post on Instagram
54 Mercer St. / 646.410.0143 / Website
A bookstore by day turns into a wine bar by night. Founded in 2022 by a father-son duo, Bibliotheque has a curated collection of over 3,000 bottles with twenty by-the-glass options emphasizing French and Italian flavors. They are merging wine and book programs split into 14 “chapters” emphasizing different aesthetics for “the ultimate oenophile-bibliophile experience.” Aside from decadent breakfast sandwiches and cheese boards, this place has over 10,000 antique books and hosts author readings, wine tastings, art and drawing classes, intimate musical acts, and much more.
View this post on Instagram
125 E. 7th St. / Website
Alas, the classic debate of red wine versus white wine, but what about orange wine? Since 2016, this premier destination marries East Village aesthetics with Eastern European sensibilities, making it the perfect spot for both natural wine lovers and vegetarian enthusiasts. A wide array of over 250 wine selections will let you sip through the regions as you journey through the flavors. Be sure to enjoy your glass or bottle with an exquisite dish, such as their crispy Papadam chips or sweet Tandoor S’more.
View this post on Instagram
183 W. 10th St. / 917.938.5829 / Website
This feel-good cafe and wine bar is packed with comforting laughs and smiles. In the mornings, this neighborhood restaurant provides limited breakfast treats and comforting beverages, such as their sourdough breading pudding and matcha lemonade. But at night, dive into their friendly ambiance and explore their fulfilling wine menu by pairing it with their limited selection of plates. Do not be afraid to ask the waiter what glass they recommend that fits your palette or even which bottle to try the next time.
View this post on Instagram
90 E. 10th St. / 917.261.6791/ Website
Taste the family love with this wine bar that will make you feel right at home. Co-owners Joshua Pinsky and Chase Sinzer took name inspiration after Sinzer’s “very Italian Jersey mother,” Claudia, to balance the menu items influenced by Pinsky’s mother and grandfather, too. Despite a tiny space, their wine selection has over 200 options changing seasonally, featuring wines from everywhere from Chile to Australia. Although walk-in guests are welcome, space is limited with only six seats saved at the dining counter, and it is highly recommended that you snag a reservation online before coming.
View this post on Instagram
295 Grand St. / 718.599.4900 / Website
Forget the apocalypse. These four horsemen brought the wine. Designed by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, the wine list features practicing organic and biodynamic producers specializing in delicious natural wines divided into sections like “New Additions” or “Last Call.” With a knowledgeable crew behind the scenes, feel free to pick their mind for your wine or try the lacinato kale, which comes with fried pig's ear, gordal olives, pepitas and horseradish. Besides, they offer half-glasses to allow for the most abundant sips and their funky merch is nothing to shy away from.
View this post on Instagram
37 Canal S.t / 646.370.6222 / Website
This French Tabac-inspired natural wine bar invites you to “dive” into their restaurant, featuring sleek French-styled decor. The smaller space offers an intimate experience for guests who are looking for a tasteful glass Along with the drinks, their menu features smaller plates including fan favorites like the beef tartare, served with cornichons, capers and Calabrian chili, or the half dozen raw oysters paired with a pink peppercorn mignonette. Turn on your listening ears and be prepared to eavesdrop on the latest gossip at this buzzing place, located in the heart of the trendy Dimes Square. You might even spot a celebrity or two.
View this post on Instagram
116 Forsyth St / 917.741.8954 / Website
You know it is coming. This hidden “Gem Wine” bar is not so hidden anymore. Combining an environmental wood aesthetic with plant accents and lamps with Goldfish cracker-shaped fish provides the best easygoing vibes. Ordering a meal here is a must with entrees like smoked steelhead trout with grilled leeks and horseradish or the whole Dover sole with lobster sauce and chives. The best part is the humbling yet impressive twenty-paged wine list stacked with quality-made wines imported from across the globe.
View this post on Instagram
247 Broome St. / 212.228.4450 / Website
We can hear the bells at this hideaway restaurant, and our hearts are singing. Providing a cozy but dim-lit haunting atmosphere, The Ten Bells is the perfect spot to grab a drink after work in an intimate but unpretentious space. The “unusual” wine list features small producers using organic and biodynamic grapes with minimal help from a winemaker. Additionally, check out their large tapas-style platters like the shrimp nachos or indulge in the one-dollar oysters at happy hour, which for New York, is a high-quality steal.
View this post on Instagram
212 Greene Ave. / 718.857.0101 / Website
Translating to “a special place,” this wine bar will certainly wow your partner on that special date night. Built by the team behind the raved restaurant Oxalis, this Clinton Hill hangout has one-of-a-kind bites that balance your selected pour. If the skillful Spanish-influenced wines are not for you, feel free to sip on another cocktail like an iconic negroni or a classic house martini. Save room for dessert because the chocolate choux craquelin with miso caramel is bouncy, sweet and the perfect closing act for the evening.
From the newest casual happy hour to an elegant upscale restaurant, a glass of good wine is always easy to come by and can be found at any of these unique locations.
Photography by: By Kate Glicksberg
